Accidents derailed the Minnesota Vikings 2023 season fairly early on, however the staff has since made some key personnel adjustments in hopes of constructing it again to the playoffs this season.
Listed here are the franchise’s 5 most precious folks in 2024:
5. Edge-rusher Dallas Turner
Shedding high pass-rusher Danielle Hunter to the Houston Texans was a giant blow to an already common Vikings protection, however drafting Turner with their second first-round choose is a stable option to make up for it.
Turner was dominant at Alabama, logging 55 pressures, 33 hurries, 14.5 tackles for loss, 11 QB hits and 10 sacks, per Pro Football Focus — exhibiting the form of pass-rush prowess Minnesota’s protection has been lacking through the years, minus Hunter’s contributions. The Vikings may actually profit from Turner handing over an identical rookie 12 months to the one Will Anderson had for the Texans final season, through which he totaled 59 pressures, 38 hurries, 14 QB hits and 7 sacks and gained Defensive Rookie of the Yr.
4. Operating again Aaron Jones
Alexander Mattison was clearly not the inheritor obvious to Dalvin Prepare dinner, which is why he was launched and the Vikings pounced on Jones as soon as the Packers lower him unfastened. From 2019 to 2022, Jones was one of many extra productive backs within the NFL, rating fifth within the league in receiving yards (1,615), receptions (207) and targets (268), sixth in speeding yards (4,108) and yards per carry (5.0) and eighth in speeding touchdowns (31) over that span.
Although he’s acquired extra mileage now than he did when he was in his prime, Jones remains to be a big improve over Mattison and having a stable every-down again at hand the ball off to ought to assist whichever quarterback is taking snaps below middle.
3. Edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard
Like Turner, there’s loads of strain on Greenard to be the straw that stirs the drink in the case of Minnesota’s pass-rush. He had a breakout 12 months in Houston in 2023, accounting for 48 pressures, 24 hurries, 10 QB hits and 12.5 sacks, and if anybody goes to make up for Hunter’s misplaced sack manufacturing instantly, it’ll be Greenard.
The 27-year-old edge-rusher has had eight or extra sacks in two of his final three seasons, and he can actually be the participant who units the tone coming off the sting. With Minnesota’s high two sackers final 12 months, Hunter and D.J. Wonnum, each on different groups, the strain can be on Greenard (and Turner) to select up their torch.
2. Large receiver Justin Jefferson
Nobody is aware of what to anticipate from the Vikings offense with Kirk Cousins now in Atlanta and both Sam Darnold or rookie J.J. McCarthy taking up because the starter. However the excellent news is whoever is throwing the ball, they’ll have one of many high three receivers within the NFL to at least one aspect and promising second-year wideout Jordan Addison on the opposite.
Jefferson is a real game-changer who can flip a protection on its head with one play. He solely performed in 10 video games final 12 months however nonetheless had 1,000 yards receiving. With the uncertainty at QB, Jefferson’s significance to the Vikings will solely be amplified subsequent season.
1. Whoever the quarterback is
The Vikings will doubtless begin the 12 months with Darnold as QB1 however issues may go south rapidly, at which level, count on to see McCarthy get thrown into the hearth. Darnold does have 66 video games of NFL expertise below his belt, so he may work properly in a game-manager position and his job could possibly be made rather a lot simpler by simply getting the ball to Jefferson, Addison and tight finish T.J. Hockenson as rapidly as attainable.
If McCarthy finally ends up taking part in a big quantity, Minnesota has doubtless given up on the season (Darnold damage however). Even when the Vikings are out of the playoff hunt, any reps McCarthy can get towards a stay protection and reps used to construct a rapport with Jefferson and Addison will go a great distance towards his improvement.